By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Heading to Round 21 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Oded Kattash recalled playing under Zeljko Obradovic at Panathinaikos.
On this occasion, he will be guiding Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv against his former coach and Partizan Mozzart Bet on Friday.
“Zeljko is the best for me. I learned a lot from him when I was a player and later as a coach. Even now, I am following him and learning,” he said in an interview with Meridian sport, “It is a great honor to face him.”
Maccabi carries a 12-8 record, sitting in a three-way tie between fourth and sixth in the EuroLeague. The Belgrade outfit follows at 10-10.
“What makes him special is that he is constantly adjusting,” Kattash commented on Obradovic, “You must be ready for a surprise. He always finds a way. Even if the season does not start well, he manages to fix everything. He brings out the best from his players. Impressive. He inspires me.”
“Obradovic was very strict with me”
Back in 2000, he became a EuroLeague champion with his next opponent in charge of Panathinaikos.
“We had a special group of players and coaches. Every single player there and every coach remembers that season with special emotions. We dominated and created wonderful memories. However, Obradovic was very strict with me,” remembered Kattash, “It was difficult over the first months. But when I passed, let us call it a test, he started to trust me a lot and made me a better player. He gave me a lot of confidence. I can only be sorry that I got injured after that first season.”
The knee injury led to the premature ending of his career. At the turning point from a player to a coach, Kattash launched his play-calling career in 2004.
“I found out that the same approach works with the vast majority of the players, especially the playmakers,” he referred to using the experience on his players, “It was not personal.”
“When he leaves the gym, he is one of the best people to be around. He respects you as a friend. That is why it is not personal,” added the Maccabi play-caller, “He just works that way. And then it becomes contagious.”